Model Master paint question

[Santacarl]

Hi all...

In my continuing saga of learning about acrylics I was looking at the Model Master line of acrylics. Could someone who's used them give me an idea the best ratio for thinning....and with what type thinner?

I've seen references to all kinds of things but I would like someone's input that has experience and good results.

Also.....any feelings on primer versus non primer.....does MM 'stick' without priming first?

I hate these learning curves I get myself into....hurts my head!

[garyrunnalls]

I'm assuming you're using an airbrush? I do, and I love these paints and the enamels as well. For thinning use distilled water or better the acryl thinner, stir it up well with a drop or several until the paint has the consistency of milk(fresh not curdled) haha and shoot away. I use CO2 tanks instead of noisy %$#%^#@ compressor (worth every penny) so I can think when I shoot, instead of headache.Paints are accurate but like any other I've bought some at hobby shop only to get home, open and kinda chunky from long time on shelf.

[Santacarl]

Thanks Gary....

Yep....airbrush.

Thanks for the 'drop' advice.....I've been reading trying to jump on this moving merry go round and the more I read the more I'm confused at times.

I've seen advice that is totally conflicting. Some will say NEVER use an enamel primer before topcoating with acrylic....others say USE enamel primer before topcoateing with acrylic.....then some say use only an acrylic primer with acrylic topcoats.....then another group that says NEVER prime.....

I've read to mix anywhere from 10 thinner to 1 paint.....to 3 to 2...... But going by what MM says I'm thinking your "drop" advice must be pretty accurate. And these others with the exotic formulas whine and complain because of all kinds of "paint issues"....HELLO!

BTW I've seen some bottles with "Acryl" and some with "Acrylic".....are these the same product? Label redesign/reprint maybe?

Well....off the soapbox.....and on to trying to figure out what shade of paint to order..... I don't recall this being so difficult when I was a kid......

[sgtryan13]

I use model master acrylics almost exclusively, and love them. Click on the link in my signature line to see my builds and the finish results with mm acrylics.

Their acrylic vs. acryl are the same thing, just redesigned labels.

Just like Gary said above, thin a drop at a time till it has that consistency of milk. My favorite thinner for acrylics is windex, it works like a charm, same goes for clean-up. I fill an old contact solution bottle with windex, and add it a drop at a time to the paint. The blue color of the windex will not effect the paint color at all, even white paint.

ALWAYS PRIME!!! I use spray laquer primer. Currently I use Tamiya spray primer, but there are plenty of others out there. The acrylic will NOT adhere to plastic very strongly with out the primer, so if you do any masking, and have not primed, prepare to have a ton of the paint pull up with the tape.

[Santacarl]

ALWAYS PRIME!!! I use spray laquer primer. Currently I use Tamiya spray primer, but there are plenty of others out there. The acrylic will NOT adhere to plastic very strongly with out the primer, so if you do any masking, and have not primed, prepare to have a ton of the paint pull up with the tape.

Sgtryan13,

Thanks for the response. Is there a reason you use Tamiya primer versus Model Master primer? I just want to understand what I'm trying to do so experience is my best bet....

Also....just curious about coverage with MM acrylics.....and I know there is a huge "it depends" factor.....but is there some sort of ballpark coverage I can expect? I ask because it seems that I will need to give the model multiple coats and I'm trying to figure out how much paint to order.

Thanks for the responses....

SC

[sgtryan13]

I use Tamiya primer because it is what my local store stocks, and it is good quality. My preferred primer was floquil, but they stopped making it.

As for coverage, typically I will go through almost an entire bottle of the hull color on a 1/350 carrier build, that is with numerous touch-ups, and all of the PE and detail parts and island being sprayed the same color. So one bottle of each color should be fine for almost any build. A 1/200 Missouri/iowa/Bismarck, etc, then I would get at least 2 of the main colors.

[Santacarl]

So one bottle of each color should be fine for almost any build.

Wow....thanks for the quick response......I was considering way too much paint....

This stuff must cover better than I was thinking.....I'm assuming the darker colors require less coats......makes sense.....

Thanks again for the pointers....